What is Lexicography? Henning Bergenholtz, Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa and Centre for Lexicography, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark (
[email protected]) and Rufus H. Gouws, Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa (
[email protected]) Abstract: Within the field of lexicography there are numerous differences when it comes to the interpretation of the term lexicography and differences in determining the nature, extent and scope of this term. Although it is widely accepted that lexicography consist of two components, i.e. theo- retical lexicography and the lexicographic practice, different definitions of lexicography give no unambiguous reflection of this distinction and of the individual components. This paper looks at some prevailing diverse uses and interpretations of the word lexicography. This is followed by pro- posals to ensure a transformative, unified and comprehensive interpretation of this concept. Keywords: INDEPENDENT DISCIPLINE, INFORMATION TOOL, LEXICOGRAPHER, LEXI- COGRAPHIC PRACTICE, LEXICOGRAPHIC THEORY, LEXICOGRAPHIC TOOL, LEXICOG- RAPHY, LEXICOLOGY, METALEXICOGRAPHY, SCIENTIFIC LEXICOGRAPHY, TERMI- NOGRAPHY Opsomming: Wat is leksikografie? In die leksikografie bestaan daar talle verskille met betrekking tot die interpretasie van die term leksikografie asook met betrekking tot 'n vasstelling van die aard, omvang en bestek van hierdie term. Alhoewel dit wyd aanvaar word dat leksikografie uit twee komponente bestaan, naamlik 'n teoretiese en 'n praktiese komponent, bied onderskeie defini- sies van leksikografie geen ondubbelsinnige beskrywing van hierdie verskil en van die onderskeie komponente nie. Hierdie artikel gee aandag aan enkele bestaande maar uiteenlopende gebruike en interpretasies van die woord leksikografie. Daarna volg voorstelle ter versekering van 'n transforma- tiewe verenigde en omvattende interpretasie van hierdie begrip.